Recoil starter



Oct. 26, 1965 A. E. woLTANsKl ETAL 3,213,841

RECOIL STARTER Filed Deo. 1e, 196s 2 sheets-sheet 1 O In I. annum...

uI-llilm 'IIIIIIIHIIIIII I NVENTOR.

ADOLPH E. WOLTANSKI HARRY F. LAKE ATTORNEYS Fl G. 4.

Oct. 26, 1965 A. E. woLTANsKl ETAL 3,213,841

RECOIL STARTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DGO. 16, 1963 FIG 3 INVENTOR.

ADOLPH E. WOLTANSKI HARRY F. LAKE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,213,841 RECOIL STARTER Adolph E. Woltanski, Warren, and Harry F. Lake, Dearborn, Mich., assignors to Continental Motors Corporation, Muskegon and Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Virginia Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,695 9 Claims. (Cl. 12S-185) The present invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to a new recoil starter mechanism for such engines.

To provide a suitable recoil starter mechanism for internal combustion engines it is necessary to provide means within the mechanism to insure that if the engine backfires during starting the mechanism will immediately disengage from the engine for otherwise injury to the operator or damage to the mechanism may result. Further it is necessary to provide means for automatically disengaging the mechanism as the engine begins to run since otherwise much of the power produced by the engine will be lost in driving the starting mechanism. Heretofore mechanism for producing these results, if provided at all, has been quite complex and therefore has added substantially to the cost of producing recoil starter mechanism for internal combustion engines.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce the manufacturing costs of internal combustion engines having recoil starters by providing simply and economically produced means for insuring that disengagement of the mechanism from the engine will occur as the engine starts and if the engine backfires during starting.

It is another object of the present invention to improve recoil starter mechanism for internal combustion engines by providing a new clutch spring for such mechanism normally drivingly connecting the mechanism to the engine through a driven gear and means automatically operable to release the clutch spring from driving engagement with the driven gear when the engine backres.

It is still another object of the present invention to improve recoil starter mechanism for internal combustion engines by providing means operable to move a driven gear into driving engagement with the engine as the recoil starter is actuated and to automatically move the driven gear from driving engagement with the engine as the engine begins to operate.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the recoil starter mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the preferred starter mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view as seen substantially from line 3 3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a preferred clutch spring member of the present invention.

Now referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention a preferred recoil starter is illustrated as comprising a housing closed at one end by a cover 12 and provided near the opposite end with a mounting flange 14. The cover 12 is preferably secured to the housing 10 by a plurality of bolts 16. As can best be seen in FIG. l, the housing 10 carries a spring and sheave assembly indicated generally at 18 and an actuator shaft assembly indicated generally at 20.

'3,213,841 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring and sheave assembly 18 preferably comprises a shaft 22 rotatably mounted by bearings 24 which are carried in suitable recesses 26 and 28 provided respectively in the housing 10 and the cover 12. A sheave 30 and spring 32 are keyed to shaft 22 in the conventional manner so that rotation of sheave 30 in one direction is resisted by the spring 32. A gear 34 is secured to the shaft 22 as by set screw 36 so that rotation of the shaft 22 by the sheave '30 produces a rotation of the gear 34.

The housing 10 is provided with a threaded opening 36 which receives a guide tube 38. A lock nut 40 may be provided to prevent the tube 38 from loosening. A starter cable 42 extends through the tube 38 and has one end secured to the sheave 30. The cable 42 is Wound around the sheave 30 so that pulling the cable 42 produces a rotation of the sheave 30 and the spring 32 rewinds the cable 42 around the sheave 30 in the conventional manner. The cover 12 is provided with an axially extending flange portion 44 which extends into the housing 10 and substantially encompasses the spring and sheave assembly 18 as can best be seen in FIG. 2. A gasket 46 is preferably provided between the housing 10 and lthe cover 12.

The actuator shaft assembly 20 is carried in an elongated end portion 48 of the housing 10 and preferably comprises an actuator shaft 50 rotatably supported by bearings 52 and 54. The bearing 54 is mounted in a suitable recess 56 provided in the free end of the end portion 48. The bearing 52 is preferably mounted in a retainer housing 58. The retainer housing 58 preferably is mounted against an annular shoulder 60 provided in the housing 10 by a retainer ring 62. A seal 64 is provided between the retainer housing 58 and the shoulder 60 and the retainer housing 58 is preferably constructed to prevent uid leakage along the shaft 50 so that the interior of the end portion 48 is effectively sealed from the rest of the housing 10.

The actuator shaft assembly 20 further comprises a gear 66 secured to the free end of the shaft 50 as by a roll pin 68 in a position to mesh with the gear 34. An actuator member 70 is carried on the shaft 50 adjacent the retainer housing 50. The actuator member 70 is provided with a transverse, angularly disposed cam slot 72 and a cross pin 74 carried by the actuator shaft 50 engages in `the slot 72 so that as the shaft 50 is rotated, the actuator member 70 rotates with the shaft 50 and is cammed axially along the shaft 50. The actuator member 70 is provided with a reduced diameter end portion 75. A pinion gear 76 is freely rotatable on the end portion 74 and is secured thereto by a retaining ring 78 which seats in annular recess 79 so that axial movement of the actuator member 70 produces a corresponding axial movement of the pinion gear 76.

A clutch spring 8l) encompasses the actuator member 70 and a hub portion 82 of the pinion gear 76. The clutch spring 80 is provided with an upwardly extending tab portion 84 and a ratchet member 86 encompasses the clutch spring 80 and is provided with a slot 88 which receives the tab portion 84.

As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the ratchet member 86 is `provided with a plurality of teeth 89. A boss portion 90 of the housing 10 carries a plunger 92 actuated by a 1 member 86 to be rotated in one direction, i.e. clockwise in the preferred embodiment illustrated.

The clutch spring 80 as can best be seen in FIG. 4,

comprises a -strip of substantially rectangular in section resilient material and which is wound to provide a substantially tight engagement with the outer periphery of the actuator member 70 and the hub portion 82 of the pinion gear 76.

The recoil starter mechanism ofthe present invention is adapted to be secured by the mounting flange 14 to the flywheel housing (not shown) of an internal combustion engine in a position in which upon axial movement of the pinion gear 76 toward the free end of the portion 48 the pinion gear 76 will engage the flywheel (not shown) of the engine through the opening 98.

In operation, the starter cable 42 is pulled to impart rotation to the sheave 30 and the gear 34. The gear 34 acts through the gear 66 to produce rotation of the actuator shaft 50. In the embodiment illustrated the resulting rotation of the actuator shaft 50 is in a clockwise direction. The rotation of the actuator shaft 50 acts through the pin 74 and the cam slot 72 to rotate the actuator member 70 and at the same time to move the actuator member 70 axially along the actuator shaft 50 toward the free end of the end portion 48. Because the pinion gear 76 is secured to the actuator member 70, by the retaining ring 78, axial movement of the actuator member 70 moves the pinion gear 76 into engagement with the flywheel of the engine (not shown).

Because the pinion gear 76 is free to rotate on the reduced portion 75 of the actuator member 70 without more rotation of the actuator member 70 will not produce rotation of the pinion gear 76. The clutch spring S0, however, provides a clutching connection between these members to produce the desired rotation.

If the rotation is not suicient to start the engine the starter cable 42 is released and the spring 32 will impart rotation to the shaft 22 in a reverse direction to rewind the cable 42 on the sheave 30. The reverse rotation of the shaft 22 acts through the gears 34 and 66 and through the pin 74 and cam slot 72 to retract the pinion gear 76 from engagement with the flywheel.

If the rotation is sufficient to start the engine the pinion gear 76 will be driven by the flywheel and this increased rotation of the pinion gear 76 will be transmitted to the actuator member 70 through the clutch spring 80. As soon as the rotation of the actuator member 70 is greater than the rotation of the actuator shaft 50 the relative rotation of the members will produce a retraction of the actuator member 70 through the pin 74 and cam slot 72.

The clutch spring 80 provides an overrunning feature due to the slippage which is provided between the actuator member 70 and the pinion gear 76.

A unique feature of the present invention is the antibackfire provision afforded by the particular clutching arrangement between the actuator member 70 and the pinion gear 76. The ratchet member 86 rotates with the spring 80 only when the actuator member 70 and pinion gear 76 are rotating in the starting direction. If the engine backres and imparts a reverse direction -to the pinion gear 76 the ratchet member 86 and plunger 92 prevent the tab portion 84 from rotating reversely. With the tab portion 84 fixed and the hub portion 82 attempting to reversely rotate the spring 80 an unwinding of the spring 80 is produced which is sui`n`cient to disengage the gear 76 from the actuator member 70 and thus from the rest of the starter mechanism.

It is apparent that by effecting a seal between the end portion 48 of the housing 10 and the rest of the mechanism it is possible to use the recoil starter of the present invention under water since the water would be prevented from passing into the engine through the flywheel housing.

It is also apparent that although it has been preferred to illustrate a spring and sheave assembly for actuating the mechanism that other means such as a kick lever arrangement or an electrical starter could be used for this purpose as well.

.i Although I have described but a single preferred embodiment of the present invention many changes and modifications can be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

Il. A starter mechanism adapted for connection with an internal combustion engine comprising (a) an actuator shaft,

disengage said members when rotation is lin the op- (b) a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft and axially movable thereon from a position engaging said gear member with said engine to a position disengaging said gear member from said engine,

(c) an actuator member carried on said shaft and having a cam slot therein engaged by a pin on said shaft, said cam slot and pin producing an axial movement of said actuator member in the direction of said engine upon rotation of said shaft in a rst direction, and an axial movement of said actuator member in the opposite direction when the direction of rotational motion of said shaft is reversed,

(d) means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft,

(e) and a spring clutch member normally engaging said gear and actuator members and thereby connecting said members for rotation and axial movement.

2, A starter mechanism adapted for connection with 30 an internal combustion engine comprising,

(a) an yactuator shaft,

(b) a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft and axially movable thereon from a position engaging said gear member with said engine to a position disengaging said gear member from said engine,

(c) an actuator member carried on said shaft and having a cam slot therein engaged by a pin on said shaft, said cam slot and pin producing an axial movement of said actuator member in the direction of said engine upon rotation of said shaft in a first direction, and an axial movement of said actuator member in the opposite direction when the direction of rotational motion of said .shaft is reversed,

(d) means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft,

(e) a spring clutch member normally engaging said gear and actuator members and thereby connecting said members for rotation and axial movement, and

(f) a ratchet member connected with said clutch member operable to prevent rotation of said clutch member in the direction opposite to that of said shaft, rotation of said gear member in said opposite direction thereby causing said clutch member to disengage said gear member from said actuator member.

3. A starter mechanism adapted for connection with an internal combustion engine comprising,

(a) an actuator shaft,

(b) means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft,

(c) a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft and adapted fo-r driving engagement with said engine,

(d) an actuator member carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith,

(e) means connecting said actuator member and said gear member and being operable to transmit rotation of one of said members to the other of said members when rotation is in one direction and to disengage said members when rotation i-s in the opposite direction, and

(f) means operable to move said actuator member and said gear member axially along said shaft upon rotation of said shaft.

4. A starter mechanism adapted for connection with an internal combustion engine comprising,

(a) an actuator shaft,

means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft,

(c) a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft an-d adapted for driving engagement with said engine,

(d) an actuator member carried by said -shaft and rotatable therewith,

(e) means connecting said actuator member and said gear member and being operable to transmit rotation of one of said members to the other of said members when rotation is in one direction and to disengage said members when rotation is in the -opposite direction, and

(f) said last mentioned means comprising, a spring member rotatable with respect to said shaft and wound around said gear member and said act-uator member to tightly engage same, and means preventing rotation of said spring member in one direction whereby rotation Iof one of said members in said last direction unwinds said spring member and disengages said spring member from said gear member and said actuator member.

5. A starter mechanism adapted for connection with an internal combustion engine comprising,

(a) an actuator shaft,

(b) a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft `and axially movable thereon from a position engaging said gear member with -said engine to a position disengaging said gear member from said engine,

(c) means carried on said shaft and operable to move said gear toward said rst mentioned position upon rotation of said shaft in a rst direction and toward said second mentioned position upon rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction,

(d) means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft,

(e) clutch means operably connecting said shaft and said gear member,

(f) means operable to disengage said clutch means upon said shaft and said gear member rotated in opposite directions,

(g) said clutch means comprising a coil spring having a portion normally tightly engaging said gear member, and

(h) said disengaging means comprising a ratchet member operably connected with said coil spring and loperable to prevent rotation of said coil spring in one `direction whereby as said gear is rotated in said last mentioned direction said coil spring unwinds to disengage from said gea-r member.

`6. A starter mechanism adapted for connection with an internal combustion engine comprising,

(a) an actuator shaft,

(b) means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft in one direction,

(c) `a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft and adapted for driving engagement with said engine,

(d) an actuator member carried on said shaft and rotatable therewith,

(e) means operably connecting said actuator member and said gear member to transmit rotation of said actuator member to said gear member when said actuator shaft is rotated by said first mentioned means,

(f) means operable to disengage said actuator member and said gear member upon the direction of one of said members to the other being reversed, and

(g) means operable to move said actuator member Iand said gear member axially along -said shaft upon rotation of said shaft.

7. A starter mechanism adapted for connection with an internal combustion engine comprising,

(a) an actuator shaft,

(b) means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft in one direction,

(c) a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft and adapted for driving engagement with said engine,

(d) an actuator member carried on said shaft and rotatable therewith,

(e) means operably connecting said actuator member and said gear member to transmit rotation of said actuator member to said gear member when said actuator shaft is rotated by said rst mentioned means, said means comprising a spring member rotatable with respect to said shaft and wound around said gear member and said actuator member to tightly engage same, and

(f) means operable to disengage said actuator member and said gear member upon the `direction of one of said members to the other being reversed, said means comprising means preventing rotation of said spring member in one direction whereby rotation of one of said members in said last mentioned direction unwinds said spring member and disengages said spring member from said gear member and said actuator member.

8. A starter mechanism adapted for connection with an internal combustion engine comprising,

(a) .an actuator shaft,

(b) a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft and axially movable thereon from a position engaging said gear member with said engine to a position disengagng said gear member from said engine,

(c) means carried on said shaft and operable to move said gear member toward said rst mentioned position upon rotation of said shaft in a first direction and towards said second mentioned position upon rotation of said shaft in the Iopposite direction, said means comprising an actuator member carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith, means connecting said actuator member and said gear member and being operable to transmit rotation of one of said members to the other of said members when rotation is in one direction and to disengage said members when rotation is in the opposite direction, means operable to move said actuator member and said gear member axially along said shaft upon rotation of said shaft,

(d) means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft,

(e) said connecting means comprising a spring member rota-table with respect to said shaft and wound around said gear member and said actuator member.` to tightly engage same, and means preventing rotation of said spring member in one direction whereby rotation of one of said members in said last mentioned direction unwinds said spring member and disengages said spring member from said actuator member and said gear member.

9. A starter mechanism adapted for connection with an internal com-bustion engine comprising,

(a) an actuator shaft,

(b) a gear member freely rotatable about said shaft and axially movable thereon from a position engaging said gear member with said engine to a position disengaging said gear member from said engine,

(c) means carried on said shaft and operable to move s aid gear member toward said first mentioned position upon rotation of said shaft in a yfirst direction and towards said second mentioned position upon rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction,

(d) means selectively operable to impart rotation to said shaft,

(e) clutch means operably connecting said shaft and said gear member and comprising a coil spring having a portion normally tightly engaging said gear member, and

7 8 (f) means opera-ble to disengage said clutch means References Cited by the Examiner upon said shaft and said gear member being ro- UNITED STATES PATENTS tated in the opposite direction, said disengaging gages said spring from said shaft and -said gear l member. RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. 

3. A STARTER MECHANISM ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING, (A) AN ACTUATOR SHAFT, (B) MEANS SELECTIVELY OPERABLE TO IMPART ROTATION TO SAID SHAFT, (C) A GEAR MEMBER FREELY ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID SAHFT AND ADAPTED FOR DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ENGINE, (D) AN ACTUATOR MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, (E) MEANS CONNECTING SAID ACTUATOR MEMBER AND SAID GEAR MEMBER AND BEING OPERABLE TO TRANSMIT ROTATION OF ONE OF SAID MEMBERS TO THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS WHEN ROTATION IS IN ONE DIRECTION AND TO DISENGAGE SAID MEMBERS WHEN ROTATION IS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND (F) MEANS OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID ACTUATOR MEMBER AND SAID GEAR MEMBER AXIALLY ALONG SAID SHAFT UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT. 